On 16 November 2022, Lorena Lombardozzi (Open University) was joined by Olena Borodyna from Global Risks and Resilience (presentation from minute 5:50 onwards) and Basani Baloyi from the Institute for Economic Justice in South Africa (presentation from minute 19:50 onwards) to discuss green finance, energy transitions and geo-political crisis in Eurasia and beyond. An interesting and stimulating discussion and Q&A session followed their presentations (from minute 46:30 until end of video).

Abstract:

Climate crisis, a pandemic, financial volatility and wars are exposing many countries, businesses and households to rise in costs for heating and production. The energy crisis questions the sustainability of the economic system in producing and trading the goods necessary for people’s livelihoods. This talk focuses on financial constraints, political barriers, and economic risks around energy production and distribution. The talk examines the challenges of transitioning to a cleaner source of energy, and the political, economic and social implications of such policies.

Speakers:

Dr Lorena Lombardozzi

Lorena is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the School of Social Sciences & Global Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at The Open University. She is Co-Director of IKD: Innovation, Knowledge and Development Research Centre. She completed her PhD thesis in Economics at SOAS, University of London (fully funded by SOAS Economics dpt.) with a title ‘A nexus between the role of the state, market transition and food consumption: The case of Uzbekistan’. Lorena holds a MSc from SOAS in Political Economy of Development (fully-funded).  She received a previous Masters in Development Economics from University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy. Before returning to academia Lorena worked as a development economist in Latin America in 2014, in Uzbekistan for the regional office of UNODC in Central Asia from 2010 to 2012, and between 2007 and 2010 with the European Commission and the Italian Ministry of Foreign affairs in the field of development economics, international trade and environmental policy. 

 

Olena Borodyna

Olena Borodyna is a Senior Transition Risk Analyst in the Global Risks and Resilience programme. Her work spans advisory on the risks and strategies for managing geopolitical and low-carbon transition in the context of climate change and other threats; ESG and political risk management of investments in emerging and developing economies, and China’s geostrategy. She has experience delivering multi-country research projects and policy advisory to corporate and public sector clients, having previously worked in business intelligence and for a renewable energy company. In her role as policy advisor, she supported the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Transport with the development of standards and business models for low-carbon hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels through advisory services. She holds an MA in Geopolitics, Territory and Security from King’s College London and BA in Chinese and History from SOAS, University of London. Olena is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Ukrainian and Russian and has conversational Spanish. She is studying towards Sustainability and Climate Risk Certificate with the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

Dr Basani Baloyi

Basani Baloyi is the Climate, Energy and Infrastructure Programme Lead at the Institute for Economic Justice in South Africa. She is a feminist, development economist and activist. She gained her research experience while working on industrial policy issues in academia, at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) and the Corporate Strategy and Industrial Development (CSID) Unit. She is the former Inequality Programme Lead at Oxfam South Africa where she infused her research and management experience with movement building and coordination, campaigning and advocating for economic and social justice, in partnership with social movements. Dr Baloyi is the former Director of Industrial Policy and Acting Chief Director in the Industrial Procurement Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry. Dr Baloyi holds a PhD in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, an MA in Public Policy and an MCom in Economics from Wits University. As a former drama student and child actress, Dr Baloyi has a fiery passion for the arts, and is in constant pursuit of using that artistic background in her advocacy work for social change.